Adaptations for Seasons of Food Scarcity

Ability to accumulate excess fat when food is available and remain healthy doing so

Ability to reduce their metabolism (hibernate) in seasons of scarcity.

Ability to mate when food is scarce in late spring and early summer, delay implantation of the blastocyst until November, give birth in the den in mid-winter, and in many ways arrange their annual life cycle of behavior and physiology to maximize efficiency of feeding during the time of year when food is most available.